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The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Laurence Olivier, Anthony Eden, Averell Harriman, Albert Speer, Siegfried Westphal
Studio: A&E Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $99.95
Buy New: $45.94
You Save: $54.01 (54%)
New (8) Used (4) from $45.94
Rating:  223 reviews
Sales Rank: 151
Format: Box Set, Black & White, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 11
Running Time: 1357 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.4 x 3.2
MPN: 71374
ISBN: 0767065751
UPC: 733961713749
EAN: 9780767065757
ASIN: B0002F6AH0
Theatrical Release Date: 1974
Release Date: August 24, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
Sir Jeremy Isaacs highly deserves the numerous awards for documentaries he has earned: the Royal Television Society's Desmond Davis Award, l'Ordre National du Mérit, an Emmy, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. His epic The World at War remains unsurpassed as the definitive visual history of World War II. The Second World War was different from other wars in thousands of ways, one of which was the unparalleled scope of visual documents kept by the Axis and Allies of all their activities. As a result, this war is understood as much through written histories as it is through its powerful images. The Nazis were particularly thorough in documenting even the most abhorrent of the atrocities they were committing--in a surprising amount of color footage. The World at War was one of the first television documentaries that exploited these resources so completely, giving viewers an unbelievable visual guide to the greatest event in the 20th century. This is to say nothing of the excellent, comprehensible narrative. Some highlights: - A New Germany 1933-39: early German and Nazi documentation of Hitler's rise to power through the impending attack on Poland
- Whirlwind: the early British losses in the blitz in the skies over Britain and in North Africa
- Stalingrad: the turning point of the war and Germany's first defeat
- Inside the Reich--Germany 1940-44: one of the most fascinating documentaries that exists on life inside Nazi Germany, from Lebensborn to the Hitler Youth
- Morning: prior to Saving Private Ryan, one of the only unromanticized views of the Normandy invasion
- Genocide: this film is one of the most widely shown introductions to the Holocaust
- Japan 1941-45: although The World at War is decidedly focused more on the European theater, this is an important look into wartime Japan and its expansion--early 20th-century history that lead to Japan's role in World War II is superficial
- The bomb: another widely shown documentary of the Manhattan Project, the Enola Gay, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki
The World at War will remain the definitive visual history of World War II, analogous to Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. No serious historian should be missing The World at War in a collection, and no student should leave school without having seen at least some of its salient episodes. Rarely is film so essential. --Erik J. Macki
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| Customer Reviews: Read 218 more reviews...
 Grim. Absolutely grim. The real story. December 3, 2008
Chris Hann (Alameda, CA United States)
When I was a kid I was taken by the tales of courage and bravery that the movies and books feed people. I read about the fighter pilots and the Commandos. War was all excitement and friends looking out for friends.
Then one day the theme music of The World at War came on, the program launched straight in to archive footage of real battles, all the horror of mangled and mutilated bodies. I was mesmerized and that was the end of my warm and fluffy view of warfare. You only need to see a little bit of the real horror of war to know that it's not something good.
As I watched the series I saw the terrifying assault on the world, the invasions and destruction, the displaced people and the dead. Germany and Japan sweeping over the face of the earth spreading fear and disaster. Then they were held and pushed back. But there was no great joy in the victories, they came at too high a cost. And yet in the end it had to be done and was worthwhile. But at what a terrible cost. This is one of the very few places you will see that cost.
This production pulls no punches and Olivier, as a former member of the Fleet Air Arm, probably brings the true emotion of personal loss to this production, as well as his amazing voice. A modern voice might have trouble appreciating what it was really like to be involved in the desperate struggle of a World War.
Now, so many years later, people forget. So I am buying this to casually watch while my 15 year old does her homework. So she'll get a less sterile view of history and maybe learn why my teachers were so utterly grim. I was taught by men who had fought through North Africa and Italy, who landed in France on D-Day and who slogged through the jungles of Burma. People need to know what it was really like and this is as good a way as still exists now that most of the veterans are old or dead.
never forget December 3, 2008
natkat (ninefiveone)
this should be required in every school everywhere. everyone should know these things so as to not repeat it. very thorough. got it for my favorite war history buff. he loves it. and i have learned much.
The World at War 30th Anniversary Edition November 25, 2008
Mark S. Pelletier (Bedford, NH USA)
The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)
I have purchased many DVDs about WW2 and this one sits near or at the top of the list. The 50 minute episodes make it easy to keep track of the many events during WW2. The episodes are interesting and informative. The series has excellent footage and the narration by Sir Laurence Olivier is top notch. The recent price reduction really makes it an exceptional value. I think it is a "must" purchase for any WW2 or history buff.
The Easiest Way To Give Up REALITY TV November 20, 2008
Michael C (Mason City, IA USA)
This should be required viewing for each and every "next" generation. You come away with a very good idea about the human cost of war, the folly of war, the stupidity of war and the horror of war. Very complete in its coverage, not just the holocaust. The actual film footage from the era is absolutely fascinating (alot of it in color). Just a great documentary. Lots of extras over and above the original episodes. And the price is right.
The World at War five DVD set November 2, 2008
TRB (Orlando, Florida)
Just as I expected. I am familiar with this program as it was presented in serial form on TV some years ago, and I always wanted my copy. This compilation may have been edited, updated and expanded from the TV version, but I am very satisified with the final result. Program uses World War II film footage which obviously varies in initial picture quality; this is understandable. Video presentation of the end result is excellent. All DVDs play on my equipment with no problems.
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